Friday, 25th June. It was graduation day at the secondary school in Jaffa. The school staff, the teachers and the pupils all worked, each playing their role, in a single synergy to prepare this event. It was a rush to put day together with the normal school activities and end of year examinations. Fr. Artemio Vítores, the Custodial Vicar, officiated at the ceremony and Fr. Raffele Caputo, Fr. Abdel Masih, Fr. Simone Herro, Fr. Amjad Sabbara, Fr. Sebastiano Matti, Fr. Zaher Abboud, all of whom work in the field of the Custody’s schools, honoured us with their presence.
The youngsters entered the courtyard of the school accompanied by music, laser rays and clouds of smoke, like a modern TV show. Five hundred relatives of the youngsters clapped their hands together with about a hundred guests.
The teachers gave the educational message in perfect Arabic, which is very difficult for the people of Jaffa where the Arabic has absorbed many Hebrew words, reflecting the socio-cultural situation where the population lives. The youngsters showed great familiarity both in their speech in English and in the use of literary Arabic.
The flag-raising, that of the Holy Land, the singing of the school anthem and the oath by the youngsters to “be faithful to the education received and to show evidence of it through their works and future jobs”, moved all those present. Songs and drama performances of the social situation in Jaffa were received with applause and great admiration.
It was a celebration for the youngsters to say goodbye to the school where they received the fundamental education of their lives and which they had attended for 12 years. Taking into account the social situation of the population of Jaffa, these youngsters find in the school the sense that they belong to a reality rich in human and spiritual values, with which they can identify. In this school they felt welcomed, protected and above all found people who devoted their time to listen to them and help them mature.
This event is the only opportunity during the year where representatives of the teaching staff, the pupils, the parents and the head teacher friar can stress and explain to 600 people the educational message of the Terra Sancta School: humanity, fraternity, respect and a vision of man as the image of God, and the possibility of a high standard of education. The message is real and sincere and the public of families and friends – made up in equal proportions of Muslims and Christians – understands it.
My greatest joy was to receive the thanks of so many Muslim parents. And, to crown it all, the introduction by some Muslim girls of their fiancé, accepted by their parents. Marriage comes quickly. the school is also the place where, as has always been the case, it is possible to meet good girls, thinking of marriage. Some of the fiancés are former pupils of our school. In short, we also help create good families. This is also part of the activity of a Franciscan of the Holy Land.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm
Head of the Terra Sancta School, Jaffa
The youngsters entered the courtyard of the school accompanied by music, laser rays and clouds of smoke, like a modern TV show. Five hundred relatives of the youngsters clapped their hands together with about a hundred guests.
The teachers gave the educational message in perfect Arabic, which is very difficult for the people of Jaffa where the Arabic has absorbed many Hebrew words, reflecting the socio-cultural situation where the population lives. The youngsters showed great familiarity both in their speech in English and in the use of literary Arabic.
The flag-raising, that of the Holy Land, the singing of the school anthem and the oath by the youngsters to “be faithful to the education received and to show evidence of it through their works and future jobs”, moved all those present. Songs and drama performances of the social situation in Jaffa were received with applause and great admiration.
It was a celebration for the youngsters to say goodbye to the school where they received the fundamental education of their lives and which they had attended for 12 years. Taking into account the social situation of the population of Jaffa, these youngsters find in the school the sense that they belong to a reality rich in human and spiritual values, with which they can identify. In this school they felt welcomed, protected and above all found people who devoted their time to listen to them and help them mature.
This event is the only opportunity during the year where representatives of the teaching staff, the pupils, the parents and the head teacher friar can stress and explain to 600 people the educational message of the Terra Sancta School: humanity, fraternity, respect and a vision of man as the image of God, and the possibility of a high standard of education. The message is real and sincere and the public of families and friends – made up in equal proportions of Muslims and Christians – understands it.
My greatest joy was to receive the thanks of so many Muslim parents. And, to crown it all, the introduction by some Muslim girls of their fiancé, accepted by their parents. Marriage comes quickly. the school is also the place where, as has always been the case, it is possible to meet good girls, thinking of marriage. Some of the fiancés are former pupils of our school. In short, we also help create good families. This is also part of the activity of a Franciscan of the Holy Land.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm
Head of the Terra Sancta School, Jaffa